There are contradicting ideas in early education for children, with most parents perceiving it as a much more expensive form of day care. However, there's growing evidence that supports the benefits of preschool education for your toddler despite the hefty price.
The importance of preschool education has been a controversial topic. Is it really important for young kids to go to school? Are the benefits worth the expenses? These are just among the questions most parents ask themselves.
However, there are studies that support the importance of early childhood education. In fact, President Obama has included high-quality education as one of his priorities in his 2013 State of the Union, as reported by Huffington Post.
To help you decide, here are key points to consider when you decide to let your toddler go to preschool. Information gathered from Parenting and Huffington Post will answer questions you might have why preschool matters.
Preschool friends help each other #lifelessons #preschoolmatters #buildingrelationships pic.twitter.com/X6wCy3sNWF
— Jennifer Hawkins (@prektech) March 11, 2016
How important is preschool?
According to Dr Kathleen McCartney, dean of Harvard Graduate School of Education in Cambridge, Massachusetts, preschool serves as a preparatory stage for real education. At preschool, kids learn how to socialize, learn the basics of the alphabets, numbers, shapes and colors.
When kids enter kindergarten, those children who had preschool education were found to have richer vocabulary, strong mathematical skills, and reading skills, W. Steven Barnett, PhD, added. Overall, preschool education benefits the child emotionally, intellectually and socially.
Todd Grindal, an education expert from Harvard Graduate School of Education, also emphasized the importance of the first five years of a person as this is the time when our brain grows to 90 percent of its adult size. Indeed, first five years are the critical years.
Preschool education is the perfect venue for your kids to develop self-confidence. They will realize that they can actually do little things by themselves.
Looking for the right school
It is recommended to do a lot of research and consideration in choosing the right preschool for your kids. You may also ask for advice from other moms. There are plenty forms of preschool education to choose from: private schools, day care centers, religious institutions, state-funded schools and cooperatives.
It is best to look for a state-licensed once you've narrowed down your options. The highest accreditation is given by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. Call each school to ask about the different requirements, fees, admission policies and curriculum.
You may also want to pay a visit and observe in a class. It is also best to bring your child along to see how your kid responds to the environment. Create a checklist and list all questions you may want to ask the school director. Check out this video about preschool education at Montessori:
